Carton With Access Feature

Abstract

A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton having a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels includes a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a top panel. The plurality of panels forming a first compartment for holding the plurality of articles. Liquid-tight features are between the bottom panel and a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel. Access features are in at least the top panel for accessing the interior of the carton and forming a second compartment that opens to the first compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carton for holding a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a top panel, the plurality of panels forming a first compartment for holding the plurality of articles;   liquid-tight features between the bottom panel and a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel;   access features in at least the top panel for accessing the interior of the carton and forming a second compartment that opens to the first compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment has an open top and a bottom that is open to the first compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the access features comprise at least one access flap in the top panel. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one access flap is foldably connected to the top panel and at least partially defined by a tear line in the top panel, the access flap is folded upwardly relative to the top panel to form the second compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one access flap comprises a first access flap and a second access flap and the access features comprise a tear strip that removably connects the first access flap and the second access flap. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 5 , wherein the top panel is a first top panel, the plurality of panels comprises a second top panel that is for being overlapped by the first top panel. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the access features comprises a third access flap foldably connected to the second top panel. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein the access features comprises a fourth access flap foldably connected to the second top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap comprises a male locking feature and at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a female locking feature. 
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the first access flap and the second access flap overlap at least a portion of at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap to form the second compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the male locking feature engages the female locking feature to lock the at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap and the at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a respective base portion and a first end portion and a second end portion each foldably connected at a respective end of the base portion, the first access flap overlap respective first end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap and the second access flap overlaps respective second end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap to form an upper structure defining the second compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the upper structure comprises two sides that comprises the base portion of one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap and two ends that comprises one of the first access flap and the second access flap that overlap one of the first end portions and the second end portions of the third and fourth access flap. 
     
     
         14 . A blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a top panel, the plurality of panels being for forming a first compartment for holding the plurality of articles in the carton formed from the blank;   features for forming liquid-tight features between the bottom panel and a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel in the carton formed from the blank;   access features in at least the top panel for allowing access to the interior of the carton formed from the blank and for forming a second compartment that opens to the first compartment in the carton formed from the blank.   
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the access features comprise at least one access flap in the top panel. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one access flap is foldably connected to the top panel and at least partially defined by a tear line in the top panel, the access flap is for being folded upwardly relative to the top panel to form the second compartment in the carton formed from the blank. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one access flap comprises a first access flap and a second access flap and the access features comprise a tear strip that removably connects the first access flap and the second access flap. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 17 , wherein the top panel is a first top panel, the plurality of panels comprises a second top panel that is for being overlapped by the first top panel in the carton formed from the blank. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 18 , wherein the access features comprises a third access flap foldably connected to the second top panel and a fourth access flap foldably connected to the second top panel. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap comprises a male locking feature and at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a female locking feature. 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein the first access flap and the second access flap are for overlapping at least a portion of at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap to form the second compartment in the carton formed from the blank. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 21 , wherein the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a respective base portion and a first end portion and a second end portion each foldably connected at a respective end of the base portion, the first access flap is for overlapping respective first end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap and the second access flap is for overlapping respective second end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap to form an upper structure defining the second compartment in the carton formed from the blank. 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a top panel, the blank comprises features for forming liquid-tight features between the bottom panel and a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel and access features in at least the top panel;   forming a first compartment for holding the plurality of articles by positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton; and   activating the access features to access the interior of the carton and forming a second compartment that opens to the first compartment.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the second compartment has an open top and a bottom that is open to the first compartment. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the access features comprise at least one access flap in the top panel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one access flap is foldably connected to the top panel and at least partially defined by a tear line in the top panel, the activating the access flap comprises folding the access flap upwardly relative to the top panel to form the second compartment. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one access flap comprises a first access flap and a second access flap and the access features comprise a tear strip, that removably connects the first access flap and the second access flap, the activating the access features comprises removing the tear strip. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the top panel is a first top panel, the plurality of panels comprises a second top panel, the forming the first compartment comprises overlapping the second top panel with the first top panel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the access features comprises a third access flap foldably connected to the second top panel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the access features comprises a fourth access flap foldably connected to the second top panel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap comprises a male locking feature and at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a female locking feature. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the forming the second compartment comprises overlapping at least a portion of at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap with at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising engaging the male locking feature and the female locking feature to lock the at least one of the first access flap and the second access flap and the at least one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the third access flap and the fourth access flap comprises a respective base portion and a first end portion and a second end portion each foldably connected at a respective end of the base portion, the forming the second compartment comprises overlapping respective first end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap with the first access flap and overlapping respective second end portions of the third access flap and the fourth access flap with the second access flap to form an upper structure defining the second compartment. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the upper structure comprises two sides that comprises the base portion of one of the third access flap and the fourth access flap and two ends that comprises one of the first access flap and the second access flap that overlap one of the first end portions and the second end portions of the third and fourth access flap.